Any vets among the Audiophiles here?

And if that questioning would/could establish a better form of democracy than we've experienced the 55 or so years of my lifetime then I for one would be proud if that questioning began on an AG forum. Coltrane1

Coltrane1 -- if you want to question that point. Fine, then start another thread. I'll even join in. My point is, this thread was meant to be about veteran audiophiles. Most, if not all the posters prior to your post and Macrojack's post, simply listed their tours of duty and maybe some of the equipment they picked up while serving.

We did it (posted) without any flag-waving or chest- beating. We did it without social or political commentary. We did it without trying to justify, or bitch, about our service. I didn't see any flag-waving and as far as I know, no politican has come into this thread to use or abuse any vet. Someone asked the question back in June of 2004 if there were any vets on these boards. And pretty that much has been what this thread has been about until your post.

So I ask myself this question, why is it that someone feels the need to come in and derail the thread? That might not be your intent, but we have wandered pretty far a field, talking about China, slavery, continuous war, defense spending.

Thank you for your service, BTW.

Pettyofficer, I appreciate the spirit of your post but I am not sure this thread is meant to be about slavery either.

The war spending is bankrupting our country and reducing the number of discretionary dollars that can go to audio purchases. Have you been effected [sic] yet? Macrojack

Macrojack, yes, I have been affected, but not nearly as much as the spending (paid for, of course, by me and thee) on non-discretionary entitlement spending since that piece of the federal budget dwarfs defense spending.

So now I have gone and done it and made my own, but last, political comment in this thread.

Leave it to me to shine a flashlight of reality check and ruin a perfectly good fantasy, aka, a gov't run amuck.

It may only be my experience, but Caveat Emptor's share something in common with dictator's...each has a short shelf life with those they attempt to rule, control, or dictate to...especially to former vets who've served both their country and their community vocationally their entire lives.

Finsup, unbeknownst to you, you're addressing a vet in a free speech public forum, who also happens to be a retired law enforcement official that spent his entire career having no idea it was illegal to go off topic in an audio forum.

Thank you for enlightening least of all me, and thank you for your service as well.

And might the record reflect that I've nothing but gratitude for the 4 years I spent serving and never expressed otherwise. I'm of the belief it's far more patriotic and honest to point out a truth than it is to wave flags and romanticize over a past life whilst ignoring what's actually happening now.

Coltrane1, I know you are a vet; why would I thank you for your service othewise? As far as public forums, yes, you are free to add your comments; just as I am free to ask they stay on topic. I honestly don't know why you think there is a lot of flag-waving or romanticizing going on here or that you need to shine a light on anything other than your service (by that, I mean highlight your service).

Anyway, I am outta here for now. This has gone way off topic from the original OP's question.

Best to you, Coltrane1. After all, anyone who is a vet, retired law enforcement, and who owns an Akita, well, that's pretty cool.

government run amuck??? i didn't know there had been a coup d'etat or do you mean the one the american people elected?

I think that the Coup D'etat is the one that Coltranel, and Macrojack are proposing. Of course with them conveniently in charge, instead of that interfering Constitutional Mandate! I will take a Constitutional Mandate any day over a Coltranel/Macrojack Mandate, perhaps I might have just a little bit more Freedom that way. You guys want to rule over people, perhaps I can recommend you overthrowing a Caribbean Island somewhere! Just leave me with my Constitutional Rights that I served 20 years to protect! I think that I have EARNED it!